TOP STORIESACIP votes to extend the age recommendation for Tdap vaccine to adults age 65 years and older
On February 22, CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to extend the age for vaccination with Tdap vaccine to include adults age 65 years and older. Previously, a one-time routine dose of Tdap was recommended for people age 11 through 64 years.

Note: ACIP recommendations become CDC recommendations once they are accepted by the director of CDC and the Secretary of Health and Human Services and are published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Back to topSpotlight on immunize.org: Most popular web sections and downloads
The immunize.org home page offers links to this month’s top 15 web sections, as well as to the top 10 downloaded handouts and publications for patients and staff. On the left side of IAC’s newly redesigned home page, you will find this handy list of links.

Top web sections include those for VISs, Ask the Experts, and Handouts for Patients & Staff. Top downloads include the Summary of Recommendations for Adult Immunization, Summary of Recommendations for Child/Teen Immunization, and How to Administer IM and SC Injections.

Pregnant women are at increased risk for complications from influenza. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Committee on Obstetric Practice recommend that pregnant women receive intramuscular, inactivated influenza vaccine during any trimester of pregnancy. CDC analyzed data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring System (PRAMS) to assess influenza vaccination coverage among women from 29 states and New York City with recent live-births. During the 20092010 flu season, coverage varied for both the seasonal and influenza A(H1N1 pdm09) or pH1N1. Women who received advice or offer of vaccination from their health-care provider were more likely to report being vaccinated. Increased efforts are needed to assess vaccine coverage and to educate providers and pregnant women about ACIP and ACOG recommendations on obtaining influenza vaccination anytime during pregnancy.

Back to topCDC publishes report on U.S. influenza activity during October 2, 2011February 11, 2012
CDC published Update: Influenza Activity—United States, October 2, 2011February 11, 2012 in the February 24 issue of MMWR (pages 123128). A press summary of the article is reprinted below.Influenza activity started to increase in February, making it one of the latest starts to influenza season in the last 29 years. Influenza A (H3N2) viruses have predominated this season, although influenza A H1N1 and influenza B viruses are also circulating. The majority of viruses that have been analyzed are like the viruses included in this year’s vaccine. Vaccination remains the most effective method to prevent influenza and its complications. Health-care providers should continue to offer vaccine to all unvaccinated persons ≥6 months throughout the influenza season.

IAC's Handouts for Patients and Staff web section offers healthcare professionals and the public more than 250 FREE English-language handouts (many also available in translation), which we encourage website users to print out, copy, and distribute widely.

We are grateful to the readers who made us aware of the error and regret any confusion the error may have caused.

Back to topVACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENTSCDC releases updated VIS for Gardasil HPV vaccine
On February 22, CDC released an updated VIS for Gardasil quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. The main change CDC made was to incorporate ACIP's recent decision to recommend the vaccine routinely for adolescent males. CDC encourages providers to begin using the updated VIS as soon as possible because using the previous VIS for Gardasil HPV vaccine could cause confusion about the ACIP recommendation.

Back to topFEATURED RESOURCESInfluenza vaccination is recommended for almost everyone, so please keep vaccinating
Influenza vaccination is recommended for everyone age 6 months and older, so please keep vaccinating your patients. At a phone-in press briefing held on February 24, CDC announced that U.S. influenza activity is increasing. A transcript and audio recording of the briefing are available.

Following is a list of resources related to influenza disease and vaccination for healthcare professionals and the public.

Back to topEDUCATION AND TRAININGAmerican College of Physicians' webinar on quality improvement in immunization to be held on March 13
The American College of Physicians has scheduled a webinar on applying quality improvement principles to immunization for March 13 at 3 p.m. ET. Registrations are now being accepted.
Back to topClinical Vaccinology course to be held in Chicago on March 911
CDC and seven other national organizations are collaborating with the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), Emory University School of Medicine, and the Emory Vaccine Center to sponsor a Clinical Vaccinology Course to be held March 911 in Chicago.

Back to topCONFERENCES AND MEETINGSBe sure to take part in the 1st National Immunization Conference Online on March 2628
Accessibility is what CDC's 1st National Immunization Conference Online is all about. The conference is virtual—there are no travel expenses, no airport hassles, no conference registration fees. With these barriers eliminated, what's to stop you from taking part in three days of first-rate presentations on current immunization topics? All you have to do to is peruse the agenda, find sessions that interest you, and be among the first thousand people to log in at the start of each session.
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I Did It By TWO - Race to Vaccinate: This PSA from Vaccinate Alaska Coalition features four-time Iditarod Sled Dog Race Champion Martin Buser. Buser has been a champion in promoting childhood immunization since 1998 when the Alaska Nurses Association and the Iditarod Trail Committee partnered to create "I Did It By TWO!" childhood immunization awareness campaign. The Race to Vaccinate commemorates the sled dog relay in 1925 that brought serum to stop a diphtheria epidemic in Nome. The 2012 Iditarod Race starts Saturday March 3.

This website is supported in part by a cooperative agreement from the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (Grant No.
6NH23IP22550) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, GA. The website content is the sole responsibility of IAC and does not necessarily represent the official views of CDC.